NFL New Year – The Bad Times

As there are Good Times there are also bad times.  It is unclear if the teams that are headed for the bad times know that they are headed in that direction.  There are those teams that already know they will be pretty bad this year.  Then there are those teams that will be bad because of the choices that they have made in the off season.   It happens every year and will continue for the years to come.  There are also players that make bad decisions but then if they are getting paid guess the decision can’t really be that bad.  Unless of course they are in it for championships.  It is a fine line to walk.  Not all can do it.  Many will fail because that is the way things go in pro sports.

The Biggest Losers

The Giants Fire Sale then spend a bunch

The Giants are a confusing team.  Either they have some kind of master plan for the future or they are just flapping in the wind.  Hoping that something lands at their feet.   I think something is going to land at their feet but it is going to land on them first.  This all started last year when the decided to draft Saquon Barkley and stick with Eli as their quarterback.  While Barkley will tun out to be a great pick.  If you don’t have a team to play around him it really does not matter.   The answer to all of this for the Giants was to trade Odell Beckham Jr. for a first and third round pick and Jabrill Peppers.  Peppers is a decent players.  The Browns wont miss him though.   The first and third for a star in the league is nothing.  The Third round pick that the Browns gave up was an acquired pick in a previous trade.  So they still have a third round pick.  The Giants then went out and spent a ton of money on Golden Tate.  Tate is ok but he is no OBJ.  The other problem with the trade to the Browns is the cap hit that the Giants took.   They have over $20 million in dead money from this.  I guess it is just money.

None of this solves any of the Giants problems.   They are a team with declining talent and have a 38 year old quarterback that is ok but not going to be the difference maker.  Not really sure that he ever was.  On the up side for Eli when he gets his roster bonus next week he will have made $250 million being on the payroll of the Giants.   Not a bad haul.   He did get them two Super Bowl wins so I guess it worked out for them.

The Steelers are confusing

The Steelers used to be a pillar of stability.  Not sure what has happened the past few years with the Steelers.  They have turned into a dumpster fire. Last year they missed the playoffs.  It is difficult to believe that the the way they handled Le’Veon Bell last year.  By not getting him signed could have been the one game difference that the Steelers missed they playoffs by last year.  Now they have let Bell get away and got nothing in return.  Well they got something.  A gaping hole in their offense.  Running Backs in most situations are replaceable.  There are the few in their prime that are games changers.  Le’Veon Bell was one of those players.  Bell is a running back and a wide receiver at the same time. Was Bell asking for too much last year?  Probably but it seems like the Steelers did not even try to ge something done.  Now it has cost them dearly.

At least with Antonio Brown they got something in return.  If you can call a 3rd and a fifth round pick something in return for one of the best players in the NFL.  Brown has at least three years left in his prime.  He is going to put up some huge numbers.  He would have with Ben Roethlisberger and Derek Carr while not the same caliber as Big Ben still have a pretty good arm and will be able to get the ball to Brown.    This was a no lose situation for the Raiders.  Getting a top 5 Wide Receiver for almost nothing it a deal you really can’t pass up.  Making a deal with one of your rivals that makes you look good and them look goofy is a nice bonus in the deal.

Miami Dolphins Fitz Magic may ruin their plan

It looked like the Dolphins were finally admitting failure with trading Ryan Tannehill to the Titans.   Lets face it he was not that good.   So it looked like the Dolphins were going to tank this season in order to move up the draft board and free up some cap space.  Then they did something a little strange.  They signed Ryan Fitzpatrick.   Fitzpatrick has had an up and down career at best.  He has had some moments of brilliance to go with his moments of absolute failure.  If the Dolphins are really trying to get the top pick in the draft.  Grabbing Fitzpatrick may have done them in.  He is good enough that he is going to put together a few games that will lead to a wins.  To get the top pick in any give draft you need to win 3 or less games it seems.  With Fitzpatrick the Dolphins will probably win at least 4 or 5.  Not great either way you put it.  Not a lot of wins not a low enough win total to get the first pick.

Read who we think the winners are so far here.